Windows Server 2008 and wireless networking

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Last week I wrote about how Windows Server 2008 can be used as a great workstation OS too… then I realised that I didn’t have any wireless networking capabilities. Although Device Manager reported that my device was working properly, there were no networks available for connection. I wondered if that was because my Intel 4965AGN card was one of the devices that won’t play nicely with Windows Vista SP1 (and hence possibly not Windows Server 2008 either) but it turns out to be a little simpler than that – as Ambrish Verma highlights on a TechNet Forum post, the Wireless LAN service is not enabled by default on Windows Server 2008. After adding this feature in Server Manager, I could browse the available wireless networks and connect successfully.

2 thoughts on “Windows Server 2008 and wireless networking

  1. Windows Server 2008 is a bit funny and believe does not support Linksys Wireless and Belkins. Dispite enabling the feature in Server Manager and rebooting the adapters are still disabled. I have to call it a day for these guys. I used a new driver from their manufcturers site but all the same. Are we going back to Windows 95 with some few bugged modem drivers we saw those times. Hope Microsoft find that bug and kill it before its officially launched. Great OS and my kids are now familiar dispite that very problem.

  2. OsmanMboya

    Windows Server 2008 has been released and this is doesn’t sound like a “bug”.

    I’ve had no issues with 32-bit driver support as I’ve used Windows Vista drivers (Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008 effectively use the same kernel) – for 64-bit versions you may have a few more issues getting drivers but, again, 64-bit Vista drivers should do the trick.

    I’m not sure about the situation with drivers from Belkin and Linksys; however, like all IHVs, it’s up to them to write the drivers – not Microsoft.

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